Edible Oscars...

This is a discussion on Edible Oscars... within the FreshWater General Discussion forums, part of the FreshWater Topics category;So, a few years back I was on a solo spring break in Florida. Come to find out in my ...

Edible Oscars...

So, a few years back I was on a solo spring break in Florida. Come to find out in my travels, Oscars are a game fish down that way. Neat. So I catch a few and eat a meal that'd have cost me $160.00 USD in any pet store.

Today I'm on holiday and catching a lot of red ear sunfish for the grill. Lepomis micropholus, and I think to myself..Ya know, these're pretty fish.

Yep, oscars are considered a game fish in Florida. I've heard of stories of people having their oscars die from old age and them grilling it up. I don't see a big deal in it personally, might as well feed some people.

Well, I can tell you that Oscar meat isn't anywhere near as fatty as native sunfish (bluegill, red ear, bass, etc). Very light and flaky, easy to scorch if you're not watching your fire. It is especially delicious when blackened, cajun style, or poached then topped with white sauce and capers.

Believe me, it is a bit unusual feeling you get catching a fish on hook and line that you grew up and grew older regarding as a species that was exclusively a pet, and then taking care of the business needed to turn it into a meal. It's sort of like, well, going hunting for poodles instead of antelope and then literally having Fifi for dinner.

Culture shock! That's the term I was looking for!

Anyway, I think my purpose in posting was that red ear look like something I'd be very interested in keeping someday. They reminded me of dwarf rainbows, sans the "dwarf" part. However, I can find no photos to do justice to the beauty of the fish I caught yesterday. None of the internet pics I've found have enough blue or are irridescent enough.

well I know over in asia, giant gourami's are considered quite the edible meal. Now personally, I think a tank mixed with some sunfish, and some lake perch would look really pretty. I've ate many of them and always marveled at the colours. Course I also just found out that perch are related to cichlids, never knew that

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